Christopher Adam Anthony

US Patent:

60478128, Apr 11, 2000

Filed:

Sep 5, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/924294

Inventors:

George W. Horn - Concord MA
Warren J. Clement - Hollis NH
Adrian L. Pyke - Reading MA
Christopher M. Anthony - Natick MA

Assignee:

Middlesex General Industries, Inc. - Woburn MA

International Classification:

B65G 4729

US Classification:

19878106

Abstract:

An asynchronous conveyor system with controlled smooth stopping and starting. The conveyer system defines a path with sections (Z1. . . Z6) independently driven. The conveyed items (2A,. . . 2D) may be independently accumulated on one or more path sections of the conveyor system. External sensors (8, 8A, 14, 14A) are distributed along different path sections of the conveyors system and are used to control the location and the flow of items in either direction. An idler wheel with a sensed rest position is also disclosed as an item sensing mechanism. The drive system for the conveyor system may be stepper motors, DC, AC, hysteresis motors or other such motors. In each case the motors are controlled to provide smooth transportation of the items. In another embodiment, servomotors are used and an internal sensed characteristic of the servo motor provides and indication of an item being on the conveyor path section associated with the servo. The operation then is similar to the use of an actual sensor.